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Just a month ago, Boys had just completed a fundraising drive, spurring the Southland public on to raise $10,000 for the Southland Cancer Society.

He shed his trademark mullet and spread the fundraising word and for his efforts he was awarded the New Zealand Rugby Players Association off-field achievement award.

Yesterday it was Boys who found himself on the receiving end of a helping hand in a time of need.

The Southland and Highlanders flanker and his wife, Kara, have gone through a frustrating and stressful ordeal they wouldn't wish on anyone.

Their dream home was on track to being built near Winton until one day they stumbled across news they were not expecting.

CS Homes - the company that was building their home had gone bust. Their home was left half-completed and they didn't know where to go from there.

Cue Ben McHugh, and pretty much every other builder in the Winton area. The house needed to be enclosed to avoid weather damage, and builders came from everywhere to sort it.

Twelve qualified builders rallied yesterday, showing up for a working bee that has given the young couple some peace of mind.

"We're just getting everything wrapped up so it's enclosed in and no weather can get into it or anything, so we can have it sorted over Christmas. We'd sort of been left in the lurch a bit and we needed to get it enclosed in."

Among those on hand to help out were some of his Stags team-mates as Boys watched something unfold that he admits was special.

"I pulled up there this morning and there were probably 10 different work vans there; it was amazing. I got there at about 8am and they'd already started," he said.

The support for the well-liked Southlander extended beyond just helping with the build.

Placemakers and Ziffs showed up with food for the volunteer workers while the Middle Pub and Speight's will put on refreshments tomorrow for those who have stepped in to help out.

Boys rolled off an impressive list of people who have stepped in to help him and his family.

McHugh said they were good people and everyone was keen to help.

He said it was also an enjoyable day out as people rolled in with refreshments during the day.

"We'd work for two hours and then the tucker vehicle would arrive and we'd work for another hour and more tucker would arrive."